Physical target-based side bet for craps game

ABSTRACT

A system and method for paying a proposition side-bet for a game of Craps. The system/method provides one or more physical targets located on the craps table layout and pays a payout for each player wager indication based upon the number and/or nature of the physical targets made and a reselected payout schedule.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Pat. Application 61/729,212 filed on Nov. 21, 2012.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

The present invention was not developed with the use of any Federal Funds, but was developed independently by the inventor.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present invention relates to a well-known wagering game called “Craps” and more particularly to an improvement thereto referred to herein as a side bet having one or more physical targets.

2. Background

Craps is a casino wagering game which is enjoyed for its fast pace and excitement. The standard rules of play for Craps are well known. However, as a prelude to discussion of the present invention, it is useful to provide a short overview of the standard rules pertaining to a Craps “Pass Line” bet.

Referring now to FIG. 1, Craps is played on an elongated Craps table 10, having a horizontal table top 12 surrounded by a sidewall 14. Craps pyramid bumper rubber 15 is typically applied to at least the bottom portion of the sidewall 15 to assure a random roll of the dice. A planar playing surface 16 is provided with a lay-out 18 in the form of indicia indicative of the play of Craps. The playing surface 16, may for example be a felt material having the indicia of the lay-out 18 imprinted thereupon. The lay-out 18 includes indicia indicative of a pass line bet area 20, indicia indicative of a point number area 22 (a plurality of squares having, respectively, therein the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10), and indicia indicative of a proposition bet area 24.

In the play of Craps according to the standard rules, every player gets a chance to throw the dice. The person throwing the dice is called the “shooter.” The shooter must make a “pass line” (referred to also as a “line”) wager (bet) by placing a selected number of chips representing the value of the wager within the pass line bet area 20. The shooter then throws the dice for his or her initial toss, referred to as the “initial come out.” If a 7 or an 11 is thrown, then a Pass Line wager wins and is paid even money; this outcome is referred to as a “natural winner.” If a 2, 3, or 12 is thrown, then a pass line wager loses and is forfeited; this outcome is referred to as a “natural loser.” If a number is thrown other than a 2, 3, 7, 11, or 12, then that number establishes the shooter's “point” (this point is either a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10). The shooter's point is then marked by a dealer with a white circular point marker 26 called a “puck” (in FIG. 1, the puck is placed by way of example on the 5 number because the shooter has, merely by way of example, tossed a number 5).

Once a point has been established, the shooter will continue to throw (that is, roll or toss) the dice until he or she either: 1) throws the point number again (referred to as “making the point”), or 2) throws a 7 (referred to as a “seven out” or “sevening out”). If the shooter “makes the point,” then any player who made a pass line wager wins even money, and the shooter throws the dice for a repeat come out (this toss is not to be confused with the “initial come out”). If, however, the shooter “seven outs,” then any player who made a pass line wager forfeits the money wagered, and the shooter forfeits his or her turn and passes the right to dice throwing to the next shooter (in clockwise order). This next shooter will then throw an initial come out after bets have been placed, as described hereinabove.

While the game of craps played according to the standard rules is exciting and enjoyable to play, what remains needed in the art is an improvement in the form of a simply executed proposition wager or side bet which provides the bettor not only the possibility of a high pay-out relative to the value of the bet, but also engages the bettor and encourages the bettor to continue play.

The above references are incorporated by reference herein where appropriate for appropriate teachings of additional or alternative details, features and/or technical background.

SUMMARY

A system and method for paying a proposition side-bet for a game of Craps. The system/method provides one or more physical targets located on the craps table layout and pays a payout for each player wager indication based upon the number and/or nature of the physical targets made and a reselected payout schedule.

In various forms of the invention one or more of the physical targets are automatic parley targets which parlay the player wager indication instead of paying a payout. The table layout may be divided into two or more zones that determine if the physical targets in that zone are automatic parlay targets or payout targets, or if the physical targets in that zone are automatic parlay targets or payout targets or target values for physical targets therein; wherein a distance from a sidewall of the craps table layout determines the value or nature of the one or more zones. One or more of the physical targets may be wild targets which payout a bonus or are large multipliers that multiply the player wager by a predetermined multiple of ten or more; One or more of the physical targets may be wild targets which lets the player's wager ride or push to a next dice roll; The payout may be proportional to a size of the respective one or more physical targets; the payout may occur when at least one die lands at least partially within one of the one or more targets. The one or more targets have circular, oblong, oval, rectangular, square, or irregular shapes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a prior art Craps table and lay-out.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a Craps table and lay-out incorporating a side bet having one or more physical targets according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial top plan view of a Craps table and lay-out incorporating in accordance with the present invention showing the game in play.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of a Craps table and lay-out incorporating a side bet having one or more physical targets according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a third embodiment of a Craps table having an alternate lay-out of one or more physical targets according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a fourth embodiment of a Craps table having an alternate lay-out of one or more physical targets according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a fifth embodiment of a Craps table having an alternate lay-out of one or more physical targets according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 a flow chart expositive of a method according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the Drawing, FIGS. 2 through 7 depict various aspects of the present invention, wherein FIGS. 2-3 show a partial plan view of a Craps table 100 having a Craps lay-out 102 including the physical target side bet indicia 104 according to the present invention. The Craps table 100 is structurally conventional. The lay-out 102 includes conventional wager indicia pertaining to all conventional Craps wagers, including indicia indicative of a pass line bet area 106, indicia indicative of a point number area 108 (a plurality of squares having therein, respectively, numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10), and indicia indicative of a proposition bet area 110.

In addition to the aforesaid conventional wager indicia, the lay-out 102 has, as above mentioned, target indicia 104 for facilitating the physical target-based side bet of the present invention. During play, when the shooter rolls the dice, targets are made or hit when a die lands in one of the physical targets defined by the target indicia 104, as described in greater detail below. In this regard, a plurality of sequentially labeled target-based side wager areas 112 are located in a target-based side wager area 114 at the center of the lay-out 102 near the proposition bet area 110, and a plurality of mutually spaced player-side betting areas 116 are located in front of each player position, respectively, around the lay-out. The target player-side target betting areas 116 are sequentially labeled in clockwise rotation around the lay-out 102, wherein the labeling is in one-to-one correspondence with the sequential labeling of the target-based side wager areas 112. It should be understood that the layouts 114 and 116 are merely exemplary and other layouts are suitable for use with the present invention.

Suitable target-made markers (not shown) may be provided for selective placement at a target-made area 118 as targets are hit according to the method of the present invention. The target-made markers may be different from both the chips and the puck, as for example being a unique color and unique size and/or with theming applied to that the puck and chips. During play each target-made marker of each made target is displayed/marked so as to avoid confusion over which targets have already been hit. For example, if a “2x” parlay target has been hit, then the target-made marker indicative of “2x” is displayed or placed on the appropriate portion of the target-made area 118. Subsequently, if the “4x” parlay target is hit, then the target-made marker indicative of “4x” is displayed and the “2x” marker taken away or the marker moved to the “4x” portion of the target-made area 118. Similarly, if the “WILD” target is hit, then the target-made marker indicative of “4x” remains and a target-made marker indicative of “WILD” is also displayed or an appropriate marker placed on the “WILD” portion of the target-made area 118.

It is to be noted that the indication of targets hit may be by any mechanism or device, be that puck-like target markers or by some other apparatus, such as for example an electronic indication, other suitable visual indication, or the like.

The outcome of a target-based side bet wager is determined according to the method of the present invention and is dependent upon the course of play of the Craps game, wherein all other wagers under conventional rules are independent of whether or not a target side bet is wagered. Alternatively, the target side bet may depend or be affected by the points made or the number(s) rolled on the dice.

According to the preferred method of the present invention, any player may make a target-based side bet wager, either by itself or independently accompanying a conventional Craps wager, wherein the player can only make a target-based side bet wager before the initial come out dice toss of each shooter. Each player making a target-based side bet wager should do so by making a target side bet wager indication by placing his or her chip(s) on the appropriate target side bet player betting area 116 on the lay-out 102 directly below his or her respective gaming position. For example, FIG. 3 depicts target-based wagers made by players who placed their chips 122 at their respective player position target-based side bet player betting area 116 (any independently accompanying conventional Craps bet these players may have also made is not shown for simplicity). While the target-based side bet wager indication placed by a player at his or her respective target-based side bet betting area 116 may be any chip or unique marker.

Once a target-based side bet is wagered, a dealer will retrieve the chip(s) bet on the player-side betting areas 116 and place the chip(s) upon the corresponding bet wager areas 112 of the bet wager area 114 adjacent the proposition area 110. These target-based side bet wagers will then remain in the respective bet wager areas 112 until the target-based side bet wagers are either paid or lost. In this regard, target-based side bet wagers are won or lost based upon accumulation of “made targets” in response to whether the landing location of each die in each dice throw by the shooter lands in a physical target area 104. In this regard, each successively made target is a different made target than earlier made targets, with exception of the parley target whose value may change, as described below. The accumulated number of made targets is the target-based side bet player's “made targets.” Whether a loss (forfeit) or a pay-out occurs depends upon the number of targets-made accumulated at the time the game ends based upon the schedule of a pay-out table.

Referring now in particular to FIG. 3, showing an embodiment of a Craps table layout 102 having simplified target indicia 104, the methodology of play according to one form of the present invention will now be detailed.

In this embodiment the target indicia 104 includes various classes of targets, such as a “win” target class 130, a “wild” target class 140, and a “multiplier parlay” target class 150. Other classes of targets are contemplated and suitable for use with the present invention. Not all target classes need be included in any particular embodiment of the invention. For example, the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4, includes two classes of targets, “parlay” and “win” targets which are identified and separated by zones, as described in greater detail below.

Referring back to FIGS. 2-3, the “win” target class 130 includes targets 130 a and 130 b. Generally, targets can take any size or shape, such as circles, bull's-eyes, squares, other geometric shapes, irregular zones or areas. Target 130 a is depicted as a bull's-eye having concentric circles outwardly increasing diameters. It is contemplated that the innermost circle of the bull's-eye would have a higher payoff than outer circles. Other exemplary targets are shown in FIGS. 5-7. Target 130 b is depicted as a circle. A target-based side bet wins, or pays off” when a die, such as die 160 lands in, partially or wholly, a “win” target. In one form of the invention, the targets may be containers, baskets set above or below the layout 102, and the like. The payout for having a die or dice land in a “win” target may be proportional to the area of the particular target and/or the location of the target on the layout. It is believed that the pyramid bumper rubber 115 provides a suitable randomness to the dice roll, nonetheless higher value targets may be placed further from the sidewall to compensate or reduce the effect of any residual non-random or skill-based factors of the dice throw.

The “wild” target class 140 includes targets 140 a and 140 b. Target 140 a is depicted as an oval, since the size and shape of targets can be varies as described above. If a die, such as die 162, lands in one of the “wild” target targets 140 b, a marker 119 or other indicator may be placed in “wild” target area 118 e of the target-made area 118 to indicate that the “wild” target has been hit. This marker stays on the indicator 118 e until either a “win” target is hit (and a payout is made) or until the shooter “sevens out” in which case all the target-based side bets are removed. Other alternate win or lose events are also contemplated and fall within the scope of the present invention. The “wild” target may serve as a bonus or large multiplier parlay, such as “10x,” to increase the payout if the target-based side bet, such as when one die or both dice land on a “win” target on any particular roll. In addition, the “wild” target may offer a small payout or let the side bet “ride,” such as a “push” of the bettor's bet in the event that a “win” target is not hit before the shooter “sevens out.”

The “multiplier parlay” target class 150 includes “2x” target 150 a, “4x” target 150 b, “8x” target 150 c, and a “½” target 150 d. Other targets such as “8x,” “3x,” “¼” and the like also fall within the scope of the present invention. These parlay targets do not pay out when a die, such as die 164 or 166, lands on a parlay target 150, rather hitting a parlay target serves to multiply any payout by the appropriate multiplier. For example, die 166 landing on bulls eye multiplier parlay target 150 e indicates a multiplier of “2x,” whereas die 164 indicates a payout of “8x.” To this end, a marker or other indicator may be placed in the appropriate parlay target-made areas 118 a, b, c, d of the target-made area 118 to indicate that a particular target has been hit. This marker stays on the indicator 118 a, b, c, d until either a “win” target is hit, and a payout is made, or until the shooter “sevens out” in which case all the target-based side bets are removed. Other alternate win or lose events are also contemplated and fall within the scope of the present invention. The parlay multiplier may be cumulative, additive, capped at a maximum/minimum or the like if desired.

FIG. 4 shows a second preferred embodiment having a plurality of zones 1-4, The zones determine whether the targets in that zone are an automatic parlay target (zones 1 and 2) or a win target (zones 3 and 4) The distance of the zones away from the front wall 217 also determines the value of the targets in that zone. For example the targets in zone 4 are more valuable than the targets in zone 1. FIGS. 5 and 6 show other exemplary layouts.

In one form of the invention, the automatic parlay targets of zones 1 and 2 serve to automatically parlay the player's side bet by the appropriate amount and does not actually payout unless a payout target in zone 3 or 4 is subsequently made. In contrast, the payout targets of zones 1 and 2 may be set to payout each time they are made.

It should be understood that the layouts, their arrangement, distribution, number, and payout/parlay, contemplated by the present invention are not limited by the specific embodiments set forth herein.

Referring now in particular to FIG. 8, the methodology of play according to the present invention will now be detailed.

Execution block 170 represents the target-based side bet players placing their respective target-based side bet wagers according to the aforesaid methodology. Thereafter, as represented by execution block 172, the shooter throws his or her initial come out toss. As represented by decision block 174, if the outcome is a natural winner or loser, then there is no affect upon accumulation of made points, and, in this scenario, the course of play returns to execution block 172, whereat a shooter repeats an initial come out throw. However, again referring to decision block 174, if the initial come out toss result is a point (a number 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) then, as represented by execution block 176, a point is established, i.e., any one of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10. The puck is then placed by a dealer at the point location corresponding to the appropriate point of the point number area 108. For example with reference to FIG. 2, the puck 124 has been placed at numeral 5 because a number 5 was rolled.

As represented by execution block 178, the shooter then again tosses the dice. If the outcome, as represented by decision block 180, is a number 7, then the shooter has sevened out and the target-based side bet wager is lost (forfeited), as represented by block 182. If not, then, as represented by decision block 184, if the outcome is that at least one die has landed in a parley target 150 then, as represented by execution block 186, parlay multiplier 118 a-e is changed to reflect the target 150 a-d landed on by the die.

Then, as represented by decision block 186, if the outcome is that at least one die has landed in a wild target 140 then, as represented by execution block 190, the wild multiplier area 118 e is changed to reflect the positive status of the wild target made.

Then, as represented by decision block 192, if the outcome is that at least one die has landed in a win target 130, then the target-based side bet wager is won, as represented by execution block 194. In this regard, a pay-out is won if at least one win target 130 has been hit and an appropriate payout is made according to an established schedule of a pay-out table. And, the game passes back to the Craps game to complete until a seven out. If, however, no die has landed in a win target 130, then the shooter again rolls the, as represented by a return to execution block 178.

The schedule of a preselected pay-out table is critical information prior to play because: 1) it specifies the criteria for a loss (forfeit) of the target-based side bet wager, or a win wherein only the pay-out corresponding to the accumulated targets made, i.e., parlay, wild and win targets, is paid out (all pay-outs for accumulated targets made that do not include a win target are often not paid); 2) it specifies the pay-out odds, and, consequently the pay-out per the accumulated targets made; and 3) it inherently defines the house odds edge.

Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” and the like, means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the purview of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for paying a proposition side-bet for a game of craps, comprising: one or more physical targets located on the craps table layout, wherein a payout is paid for each player wager indication based upon the number and/or nature of the physical targets made and a preselected payout schedule.
 2. The side-bet system of claim 1 wherein one or more of the physical targets are automatic parley targets which parlay the player wager indication instead of paying a payout.
 3. The side-bet system of claim 1 wherein the table layout is divided into two or more zones that determine if the physical targets in that zone are automatic parlay targets or payout targets.
 4. The side-bet system of claim 1 wherein the table layout is divided into two or more zones that determine target values for physical targets therein.
 5. The side-bet system of claim 4 wherein a distance from a sidewall of the craps table layout determines the value or nature of the one or more zones.
 6. The side-bet system of claim 1 wherein one or more of the physical targets are wild targets which payout a bonus or are large multipliers that multiply the player wager by a predetermined multiple of ten or more.
 7. The side-bet system of claim 1 wherein one or more of the physical targets are wild targets which lets the player's wager ride or push to a next dice roll.
 8. The side-bet system of claim 1 wherein the payout is proportional to a size of the respective one or more physical targets.
 9. The side-bet system of claim 1 wherein the payout occurs when at least one die lands at least partially within one of the one or more targets.
 10. The side-bet system of claim 1 wherein the one or more targets have circular, oblong, oval, rectangular, square, or irregular shapes.
 11. The side-bet system of claim 1 wherein one or more of the physical targets are automatic parley targets which parlay the player wager indication instead of paying a payout; wherein the table layout is divided into two or more zones that determine if the physical targets in that zone are automatic parlay targets or payout targets, or if the physical targets in that zone are automatic parlay targets or payout targets or target values for physical targets therein; wherein a distance from a sidewall of the craps table layout determines the value or nature of the one or more zones; wherein one or more of the physical targets are wild targets which payout a bonus or are large multipliers that multiply the player wager by a predetermined multiple of ten or more; wherein one or more of the physical targets are wild targets which lets the player's wager ride or push to a next dice roll; wherein the payout is proportional to a size of the respective one or more physical targets; wherein the payout occurs when at least one die lands at least partially within one of the one or more targets; and wherein the one or more targets have circular, oblong, oval, rectangular, square, or irregular shapes.
 12. A system for paying a proposition side-bet for a game of Craps, comprising: a proposition bet that automatically parlays each of a player wager indications instead of paying a payout when the bet is made; and a proposition bet that pays out the parlayed bet when the payout bet is made, the payout for each player wager indication is based upon at least in part the number and/or nature of the parley bets made, the number and/or nature of the physical targets made, and a reselected payout schedule.
 13. A method for paying a proposition side-bet for a game of craps, comprising: providing one or more physical targets located on the craps table layout; and paying a payout for each player wager indication based upon the number and/or nature of the physical targets made and a preselected payout schedule.
 14. The side-bet method of claim 13 wherein one or more of the physical targets are automatic parley targets which parlay the player wager indication instead of paying a payout.
 15. The side-bet system of claim 13 wherein the table layout is divided into two or more zones that determine if the physical targets in that zone are automatic parlay targets or payout targets.
 16. The side-bet system of claim 13 wherein the table layout is divided into two or more zones that determine target values for physical targets therein.
 17. The side-bet system of claim 16 wherein a distance from a sidewall of the craps table layout determines the value or nature of the one or more zones.
 18. The side-bet system of claim 13 wherein one or more of the physical targets are wild targets which payout a bonus or are large multipliers that multiply the player wager by a predetermined multiple of ten or more.
 19. The side-bet system of claim 13 wherein one or more of the physical targets are wild targets which lets the player's wager ride or push to a next dice roll. 